Check writer



L. H. SKEEN I 2,142,862

CHECK WRITER Filed Nov. 18, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I l I I l I I I I I I INVENTOR L. H. SKEEN CHECK WRITER Jan. 3, 1939.

, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18

INVENTOR w 1 l & ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939.

L. H. SKEEN CHECK WRITER Filed Nov. 18, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheef 5 INVENTOR BY 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. H K N 2,142,862

CHECK WRITER Filed Nov. 18, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I. H .S/feen,

INVENTOR L. H SKEEN CHECK WRITER Jan. 3, 1939.

Filed Nov. 18, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE CHECK WRITER Lawrence H. Skeen, Frostproof, Fla., assignor to Hall-Welter 00., Inc.,

Rochester, N. Y., a cor- 33 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in check writers of the type having a key-board for controlling the designations to be impressed on a check.

The object of my invention is to materially simplify the construction of a check writer of this type in order that it may be simply and inexpensively constructed and manufactured for sale at a comparatively small cost, much reduced as compared with the cost of many check writers which have been manufactured heretofore.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a check writer, embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1, and at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view on the line 4-4, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view partly broken away through a section of the key-board showing the parts in operating position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the keys in normal inoperative positions;

Fig. 7 is a similar view at right angles thereto;

Fig. 8 is a partial side elevation of a portion of the handle;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the same at right angles to Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of one of the dies; and

Fig. 11 is a portion of a bottom plan view of the dies and control dogs, on the line H--l I, of

Fig. 1.

The machine comprises a base I, which supports a casing or housing 2 mounted thereon, for enclosing the operating mechanism of the machine and for carrying the key-board thereon.

v The key-board will be first described. A plate 3 is mounted and supported on the upper end of the casing 2. A second plate 4 is spaced below the plate 3 and is carried thereby, being held in spaced relation by vertical walls 5. Keys 6 are mounted in rows above the plate 3, there being ten keys to each row and seven rows as illustrated in the drawings, but these may be varied as may be found desirable. An additional key in each row designated 6a, is an error key to be depressed when an error has been made in depressing a key in that row as will be hereafter described. The keys 6 have stems l which pass through both of the plates 3 and 4 as shown particularly in Fig. 7, which stems I carry pins 8 extending through vertical slots 9 in the walls 5. A series of locking cams III are pivotally supported by each wall 5, as at II. Each locking cam III has an inclined slot [2 therein through which one of the pins 8 extends.

A spring l3 has one end connected with a cam ID and the other end connected with the wall 5 normally tending to pull the cam to an upright position as shown in Figure 6. The upper side of each cam has a fiat face 14, from one side of which projects an upstanding pin [5. Slidably mounted in suitable guides carried at one side of each wall 5 is a bar l6 arranged parallel with the plate 3 and immediately beneath said plate, there being a bar 16 for each row of keys. Each bar I6 has a plurality of slots l1 receivin the pins [5 therein for moving the bar lengthwise when a key is depressed. Each bar I6 is normally moved to the left in Figs. 5 and 6, by a spring 8 connected thereto.

Pivoted as at I9 to each of the walls 5 is a dog 20 arranged beneath the bar [6 in a position to engage in an opening 2|, when said bar is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 5 for locking the bar in that position. Said dog has a spring 22, connected thereto and normally tending to swing said dog upwardly into locking engagement with the bar. The dog has a long arm 23, which is curved downwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The error key 6a has the lower end 24 thereof turned laterally through a slot 25 in the adjacent wall 5 with a beveled lower edge of said portion 24 in position to engage the upper edge of the dog 20 to depress said dog when in its locking position as shown in Fig. 5, in order to release the bar [6 for movement to the left in Fig. 5. This is desired when an error has been made in depressing a key 6.

Brackets 26 extend downwardly from the plate 4 and are carried thereby, which brackets carry rods 21 extending in parallel relation with the key-board. Slidably mounted on each rod 21 is a fork 28 having the prongs thereof extendin downwardly, as shown in Fig. l. A spring 29 has one end bearing against the fork 28 normally tending to move said fork to the right in Fig. 1, from where it is shown in its full line position to the extreme dotted line position.

The printing discs are designated 30 and each of said discs has a pin 3| operating within a fork 28, which tends to rotate the discs in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 when said forks are released for movement to the right by the 55 springs 29. Each of the discs 30 carries printing characters 32 of the usual or desired construction which may be adapted to print or cut the figures in the check. The discs 39 are journaled on the shaft 33, the ends of which shaft project into upright inclined slots 34 in plates 35 carried by housings 36, secured to opposite side walls of the casing 2. The shaft 33 is normally held in its uppermost position by springs 31 which are interposed between sockets 38 of the casings 36 and pins 39 on the underside of the shaft 33.

I have shown seven printing discs 30, five of which are arranged in a group and are adapted to print the dollar designations, while two of said discs are arranged side by side and spaced somewhat from the others for the purpose of printing the cents designations. The adjacent printing discs in each group are spaced apart a istance such that the usual printing characters or typed faces 32 are slightly spaced apart a distance sufiiciently to permit the arms 23 of the dogs 28 to pass therebetween as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Arranged between the groups of discs 30 on the shaft 33, is a collar 46 carrying a radial extension M which has at its lower end a printing type 4'2 comprising the word And or any other suitable designation. On the opposite side of the cents set of discs is a collar 43 carrying a radial extension M having printing type 45, at the lower end thereof for printing the characters, such as Cts..

On the opposite side of the large set of discs from the collar li is a collar 46 carrying a radial extension 4'! on the lower end of which is slidably mounted a die 48. The die 38 may have a dollar designation thereon and also, if desired, other suitable characters, such as Pay. The die at has a lug $8 at one side thereof receiving one end of a wire 56 having a coil spring intermediate its ends and surrounding a pin 52, secured to the extension 4'! as shown in Fig. 2. The other end of said wire extends laterally and is anchored to an extension 53 of a handle disc 55, as shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted on short shafts 54, in opposite sides of the casing 2, are discs 55, one of which has the arm 53 secured thereto, while the stub shaft 5 3 of the other disc has a handle 56 secured thereto for the purpose of operating said discs. The movement of the handle in one direction is limited by a pin 5?. A yoke 58 extends transversely of the machine across the discs 38 and has its opposite ends turned in parallel position and se cured to the discs 55, so that said yoke swings in an are around the discs 38, upon rotation of the discs 55 by the handle 56. One end of the wire 56 being attached to one of the discs 55 tends to return said disc, yoke 58, and handle 55, to their initial positions after said parts have been operated.

The yoke 58 normally bears against the opposite sides of the forks 28 from the springs 29 and therefore acts against the tension of the springs 29 in controlling the movement of the forks 28 along the rods 21.

As shown in Fig. 4, toggle levers 59 are pivotally connected together at their adjacent ends as at 691, while their outer ends are pivoted respectively at B! to the plate 35 and at 62, to the opposite ends of the shaft 33. A coil spring 63 is connected with the pivot 80 of each set of toggle levers and acts on said pivot, tending to hold the toggle levers in the position shown in Fig. 4. A lever 64 has one end thereof connected with the pivot 60, while its other end is pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank lever 65, which bell-crank lever is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 66,

to an arm 6? extending outwardly from the supporting plate 35. The bell-crank lever 65 carries a catch 68 in position to be engaged by the yoke 58 as said yoke swings over to the left in Fig. 4, which catch on being actuated by the yoke causes a swinging motion of the bell-crank lever 65 and lever (i i to actuate the toggle levers 59. This action causes the toggle levers 59 to be straightened, which depresses the shaft 33 against the tension of the springs 37 and thereby moves the printing discs 36 and the type plates 42 and 35, and the die 68 downward toward the extreme lowermost dotted line position, shown in Fig. l, which causes the check to be cut and printed as shown in Fig. 2, the toggle and lever arrangement described is arranged at each opposite side of the machine so as to act on opposite ends of the shaft 33 to uniformly depress said shaft.

The dies are inked by a ribbon carried and operated in the usual manner by rollers 69.

Operation In printing or cutting a check, the check may be inserted between the base i and the casing 2, through the mouth, shown at the right hand side of Fig. l, where the checkis held in place between resilient plates iil and H resiliently bearing toward each other, so as to hold the check in place over a platen i2 fixed in the base 5.

Assuming that it is desired to cut or print the check for five hundred ($500.00) dollars, the fifth key in the third row from the right of the dollar keys is depressed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 1, and it is unnecessary to depress any other keys of the key-board for the reason hereinafter explained. This will cause the corresponding locking cam i to be turned to the position shown in Fig. 5 from the position shown in Fig. 6, where the rear edge of said cam has entered one of the slots l? while at the same time, the pin E5 has pushed the bar it to the right in Figs. 5 and 6, until the dog 20 engages in the opening 2!, so as to lock the bar It and likewise the depressed key 5 in the positions shown in Fig. 5. The longitudinal movement of the bar l6 has caused said bar to move over the faces 44 of the other cams til in that row, so as to lock said cams and corresponding keys against being accidentally depressed. If an error has been made, whereby the wrong key has been depressed, it may easily be released by depressing the error key 6a which releases the dog 2!! and the bar H and which action serves to return the depressed key to its elevation position.

However, when the proper key has been depressed and locked in such depressed position, the lower end of its stem l projects downward below the lower ends of the other stems in that row, thereby is disposed in the path of the corresponding fork as said fork is moved to the right in Fig. i by the action of the spring 23, when the handle 55 is moved forward. Such forward motion of the handle moves the yoke 58 to the right in Fig. 1 which thereby removes a restraining action from all of the forks 28 permitting all of said forks to be moved to the right by the r springs 29. At the same time, when the handle 56 starts to turning motion will be imparted to the arm 53, winch will swing the wire about the pin 52, and thereby cause a movement of the die to the left, in Fig. 2, which die slides along. the extension 37. However, prior to the movement of the handle, the long arm 23 of the corresponding dog 20 has been moved into dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, in the path of the die 48, so that as said die moves to the left in Fig. 2, it engages said arm 23 which arm restrains and limits the extent of said movement. The die 48 is moved in front of the printing characters of the two right hand discs in Fig. 2, where it is stopped adjacent the middle disc and the three left hand discs of the dollar group are permitted to continue their turning motion as the handle 56 is turned. The fork 28 for one disc engages the depressed key stem 1 of the fifth key which stops further movement of said fork 28, along the rod 21 and holds the corresponding disc- 30 in a position whereby the fifth numeral thereof is in place for printing when said disc is lowered to a printing position. The two discs restrained by the die 48 have not rotated sufficiently for to bring any of their printing characters into printing positions, so that they will not cause any printing action when lowered.

The other unrestrained hscs continue to rotate upon turning movement of the handle 56 and the yoke 58, until the forks 28 have moved to their extreme right hand positions in Fig. l, which has caused a turning of those discs sufficiently to bring the naught on each of them into proper position for printing or cutting the check, when the discs are lowered. This action has brought all of the selected printing characters into proper positions for printing or cutting the check.

As the handle 56 continues its forward motion, the yoke 58 engages the catches 68, to swing the bell-crank levers 65 and pull forward on the levers 64 against the tension of the springs 63 and straighten the toggle levers 59. That action causes a downward movement of the opposite ends of the shaft 33, in the slots 34 which carries the printing characters and discs downward to the extreme lowermost dotted line positions shown in Fig. 1, which causes a printing or cutting of the proper designations on the check.

When the handle reaches the limitation of its downward or forward movement as controlled by a stop 13, shown in Fig. 1, the yoke 58 engages a raised cam shaped portion 14 on the long arm 23 of the dog 20 which swings said dog from its dotted line position in Fig. l, to its full line pos tion, thereby releasing the bar 15 and permitting said bar to be moved to the left in Fig. and thereby raising the depressed key 6,

When the handle is released, the springs causes the disc 35] and the other printing characters and dies to be raised and at the same time the yoke 58 swings with the handle back to their initial positions, the yoke causing all of the forks 28 to be moved to the extreme left hand ends of the rods 21, as shown in Fig. l, and holds said forks in such position.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 corresponds with one disc, but it will be understood that there is similar mechanism, except for the 48, for each row of keys.

The arms 23 for the discs adapted to print or cut the cents designations are similar to the arms 23 above described, except that they do not project as far rearward as that shown in 1, but they carry cam portions similar to the portions 14 for releasing the corresponding bars 56 at the completion of the printing or cutting operation.

It will be understood that when there are several numerals in the number to be cut, the corresponding discs 30 will be rotated by the fork 28 as limited by the stems 1 of the keys 5, to bring the selected printing characters 32 into proper printing positions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a check writing machine, the combination of selective printing characters, means mounting said printing characters for rotary movement, a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, pivotally mounted means for locking said keys selectively in depressed positions, and means operatively connected with the printing characters and movable in a plane extending approximately parallel with the key-board and controlled by the projection of the key stems therefrom for selectively moving the printing characters into operative positions.

2. In a check writing machine, the combination of a stationary platen, selective printing characters, means mounting said printing characters for rotary movement and for bodily movement toward and from the stationary platen, a stationary key-board having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, and means operatively connected with the printing characters and movable in a plane extending approximately parallel with the key-board and controlled by the projection of the key stems therefrom for selectively moving the printing characters into operative positions, said printing characters being bodily movable relative to the key-board after being selectively moved to printing positions.

3. In a check writing machine, the combination of a stationary platen, selective printing characters, means mounting said printing characters for rotary movement and for bodily movement toward and from the stationary platen, a stationary key-board having keys with stems projecting through the keyboard, means operatively connected with the printing characters and movable in a plane extending approximately parallel with the key-board and controlled directly by the projecting ends of the key stems therefrom for selectively moving the printing characters into operative positions, means for actuating said last-mentioned means to move the printing characters into printing positions, and means for causing bodily movement of the printing characters relative to the keyboard after movement thereof by said last-mentioned means.

4. In a check writing machine, the combina tion of a stationary platen, discs carrying selective printing characters, a shaft mounting said discs for rotary movement, means mounting said shaft for bodily movement of the printing characters toward or from the platen, a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, means operatively connected with the discs and controlled directly by the projecting key stems for selectively turning said discs, and means operatively connected with said lastmentioned turning means and operating on the shaft for bodily moving the selected printing characters toward the platen.

5. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters, a shaft mounting said discs for rotary movement, a fork having operative connection with each of said discs, means mounting said forks for sliding movement, resilient means bearing against the forks and tending to move said forks in one direction, a yoke mounted for swinging movement co-axially of the discs and normally acting on the opposite side of the forks from said resilient means and controlling sliding movement of the forks, and means for actuating said yoke.

6. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters, a shaft mounting said discs for rotary movement, forks having pin and slot connections with the discs, rods slidably receiving the forks and on which said forks are mounted for sliding movement, resilient means bearing against the forks and tending to move the forks in one direction, a yoke acting on the opposite side of the forks from said resilient means and controlling sliding movement of the forks, and means for actuating said yoke.

7. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters, a shaft mounting said discs for rotary movement, means mounting said shaft for bodily movement thereof, operating members connected with. the discs, a yoke acting on said operating members and controlling movement thereof, mechanism operatively connected with the shaft and projecting into the path of the yoke for operation by the yoke to depress the shaft when said yoke moves to an extreme position.

8. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters,.a shaft mounting said discs for rotary movement, means mounting said shaft for bodily movement thereof, operating members connected with the discs, a yoke acting on said operating members and controlling movement thereof, mechanism operatively connected with the shaft and projecting into the path of the yoke for operation by the yoke to depress the shaft when said yoke moves to an extreme position, and resilient means bearing against the underside of said shaft and tending to move said shaft upwardly.

9. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft carrying printing characters, means mounting said shaft for downward bodily movement, toggle links connected with opposite end portions of said shaft, trip mechanism acting on said toggle links to move the shaft bodily, and turning means for said printing characters to turn the same to set positions, said trip mechanism being arranged in the path of movement of said turning means for engagement thereby only at the end of the setting movement.

10. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft carrying printing characters, means mounting said shaft for downward bodily movement, toggle links connected with opposite end portions of said shaft, trip mechanism acting on said toggle links to move the shaft bodily, means for causing turning movement of the printing characters, and means for synchronizing the actuation of said turning means with the operation of the trip mechanism.

11. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of printing discs carried thereby, a support carried by the shaft adjacent said discs, a die carried by the support and slidably movable toward and from the discs, a wire having a spring coil portion intermediate its ends and one of said ends being connected with the die, and operating means for the discs connected with the other end portion of the wire for shifting the die upon movement of the discs.

12. In a check writing machine, the combina tion of a plurality of printing discs having radially projecting, portions, a die, means mounting said die for sliding movement into the path of said projecting portions, means other than a printing disc for limiting the extent of said sliding movement of the die, and means for causing movement of the die upon actuation of the discs.

13. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing discs having radially projecting portions, operating means for the discs, a die, means mounting said die for sliding movement into the path of said projecting portions, means for causing movement of the die upon operation of the discs, and means other than a printing disc movable into the path of the die for limiting the extent of said sliding movement.

14. In a check writing machine, the combination of a key-board, a plurality of printing discs having radially projecting portions, a printing die, means mounting said die for sliding movement into the path of the projecting portions, operating means for the discs controlled by the key-board, and levers operatively connected with the key-board and responsive to the controlling action thereon for movement into the path of the die to regulate the extent of such movement.

15. In a check writing machine, the combination of a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, mechanism operated by depression of a key for locking said key, printing discs, means controlled by the stem of the depressed key for regulating the actuation of at least one of the printing discs, a dog for locking said mechanism and having an arm carrying a cam projection, and operating means for releasing the dog.

16. In a check writing machine, the combination of a platen, selective printing characters, means mounting said printing characters for rotary movement and for bodily movement toward and from the platen, a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the keyboard, means operatively connected with the printing characters and controlled by direct engagement with the projecting ends of the key stems for selectively moving the printing characters into operative positions, means for actuating said last-mentioned means to move; the printing characters into printing positions, and means for causing bodily movement of the printing characters after movement thereof by said last-mentioned means.

17 In a check writing machine, the combination of a platen, selective printing characters, means mounting said printing characters for rotary movement and for bodily movement toward and from the platen, a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the keyboard, means operatively connected with the printing characters and controlled by direct engagement with the projecting ends of the key stems for selectively turning the printing characters through predetermined degrees, means for actuating said last-mentioned means, and means for bodily moving the printing characters after said turning movement and without additional turning movement.

18. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters, means for mounting said discs for rotary movement, a member having operative connection with each of said discs, means mounting said members for sliding movement, resilient means bearing against the members and tending to move said members in one direction, and means mounted for swinging movement around the discs and in position to act on the opposite side of the members from said resilient means and controlling sliding movement of the members.

19. In a check writing machine, the combination of discs carrying selective printing characters, means for mounting said discs for rotary movement, a fork having operative connection with each of said discs, means mounting said forks for sliding movement, resilient means bearing against the forks and tending to move the forks in one direction, means mounted for swinging movement around the discs and in position to act on the opposite side of the forks from said resilient means and controlling sliding movement of the forks, and means for actuating said last-mentioned controlling means.

20. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft carrying printing characters, said shaft being mounted for downward bodily movement, toggle links connected with opposite end portions of said shaft, means acting on the joint of the toggle links for causing bodily movement of the shaft, and a pivoted bell-crank lever having an arm connected with said means and a second arm extending in position to be engaged for swinging movement.

21. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft carrying printing characters, said shaft being mounted for downward bodily movement, toggle links pivotally connected together and connected with opposite end portions of said shaft, means acting on the pivotal connection between the toggle levers for straightening the toggle levers to cause bodily movement of the shaft, and a pivoted bell-crank lever having an arm connected with said means and a second arm extending in position to be engaged for swinging movement.

22. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft carrying printing characters, said shaft being mounted for downward bodily movement, toggle links pivotally connected together and connected with opposite end portions of said shaft, resilient means tending to pull the toggle levers out of straight line relation, means acting on the toggle levers for causing straightening movement thereof for bodily movement of the shaft, and a pivoted bell-crank lever having an arm connected with said means and a second arm extending in position to be engaged for swinging movement.

23. In a check writing machine, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of printing discs carried by said shaft, a support carried by the shaft adjacent said discs, a die wholly carried by the support in all transversely adjusted positions thereof and slidably movable toward and from the discs, means for moving the die, and means arranged between each of a plurality of pairs of adjacent discs for selectively limiting the sliding movement of the die.

24. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing discs, each having a major portion and a radially projecting portion, a printing member, means mounting said printing member for sliding movement into the paths of said projecting portions, said printing member being spaced radially from the peripheries of the major portions of said printing discs in position for movement past said discs out of contact with the major portions thereof, and means arranged between a plurality of pairs of adjacent discs for limiting the extent of said sliding movement of the printing member.

25. In a check-writing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing discs having radially projecting portions, a printing member, means mounting said printing member for sliding movement into the path of said projecting portions, a Wire having a coil therein and an approximately straight portion, said straight portion being connected with the printing member for moving said member, and means for rotating the discs and connected with the other end portion of the wire for shifting the member upon movement of the discs.

26. In a check Writing machine, the combination of a key-board, a plurality of printing discs, a printing member, means mounting said printing member for sliding movement laterally relative to the discs, operating means for the discs controlled by the key-board, and levers operatively connected with the key-board and responsive to the controlling action thereon to regulate the extent of movement of the printing member.

27. In a check writing machine, the combination of movable selective printing characters, a key-board having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, a separate pivotally mounted member for each key stem for locking said key selectively in depressed position, means operatively connected with the printing characters and movable in a plane extending approximately parallel with the key-board and controlled by the projection of the key stems therefrom for selectively moving the printing characters into operative positions.

28. In a check writing machine, the combination of rotary discs carrying selective printing characters, mounting means for said discs, a keyboard having keys with stems projecting through the key-board, a separate pivotally mounted locking member for each key stem mounted adjacent thereto in position for engaging said stem to lock the key selectively in depressed position, said key-board being mounted directly over the rotary discs, an operating member operatively connected with each disc and extending upwardly therefrom, and means mounting said operating members for movement in a plane approximately parallel with the key-board, said operating members being controlled by the projection of the key stems through the key-board.

29. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing discs, each having a major portion with a radially projecting printing portion, a printing member, means mounting said printing member for sliding movement into the paths of said projecting portions, said printing member being spaced radially from the peripheries of the major portions of said printing discs in position for movement past said discs out of contact with the major portions thereof, and a plurality of members arranged in position for selective movement between pairs of adjacent discs for selectively limiting the extent of sliding movement of the printing member.

30. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing discs, each having a major portion with a radially projecting printing portion, disc setting means, a printing mem ber, means mounting said printing member for sliding movement into the paths of said projecting portions, said printing member being spaced radially from the peripheries of the major portions of said printing discs in position for mov ment past said discs out of contact with the major portions thereof, and means for limiting the extent of said sliding movement of the printing member including a plurality of arms selectively moved between pairs of adjacent discs in the path of the printing member.

31. In a check writer of the character described, the combination with a plurality of printing segments normally occupying neutral positions of adjustment and adapted to be individually moved about a common axis, each to a desired printing point, a plurality of manually operated selective means controlling the printing positions of the respective segments, a clearing yoke embodying a rigid bar spanning the segments and rockable back and forth in a single path on the same axis therewith, supporting means for said yoke, an operating lever movable from an inoperative position to an operative position and back again to perform the printing acts and connected to cause the yoke bar to return all of the printing segments to neutral positions after each such printing act of the machine, and trip mechanism motivated by the operating lever on its movement to operative position, which trip mechanism cooperates with the yoke and acts to restore said segment controlling means to initial positions after each printing operation.

32. In a check writer, the combination with a plurality of printing segments normally occupymg neutral positions of adjustment and adapted to be individually moved about a common axis, each to a desired printing point, a plurality or manually operated selective means controlling the printing positions ofthe respective segments, a yoke spanning the segments and rockable back and forth on the same 'axis therewith, an operatmg lever movable from an inoperative position to an operative position and back again to perform a printing'act and connected to cause the yoke to return all of the printing segments to the neutral positions, and trip mechanism mountedsubstantially in a fixed position relative to the check writer for operation by the yoke and motivated by the operating lever on its movement to operative position, which trip mechanism cooperates with the yoke and acts to restore said segment,

controlling means to initial positions after each printing operation.

33. In a check writer of the character described, the combination with a plurality of printing segments normally occupying neutral positions of adjustment and adapted to be individually moved about a common axis, each to 'a desired printing point, a plurality of manually operated selective means controlling the printing positions of the respective segments comprising a keyboard having banks of keys arranged in rectilinear rows, a rectilinearly movable adjusting element for each segment adapted to be limited in its movement by the keys of a row on the keyboard, a clearing yoke spanning the segments and rockable back and forth on the same axis therewith, an operating lever movable from a normal inoperative position to an operative position and back again to perform the printing function and connected to cause the yoke bar to return all of the printing segments to neutral positions through the medium of the adjusting elements after-each such printing act of the machine, and means for restoring the selected keys to normal positions.

LAWRENCE H. SK'EEN. 

